Heat resisting fixture wire and method of making the same



April 17, 1934. p HmsKY 1,955,424

HEAT RESIS'ILNG FIXTURE WIRE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed March 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT BESISTING FIXTURE WIRE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME York Application March 3, 1932, Serial No. 596,521

9 Claims.

This invention relates to what is known as heat resisting fixture wire, and particularly to the provision of a product of this class having an outer coating composed of an opaque colored compound giving predetermined color to the finished product; and the object of the invention is to provide an electric wire having one or more fibrous coverings treated with a waterproof and flame resistant saturant, and if desired, with another coating of a flame resisting compound, and in applying an outer coating of a colored opaque compound having awax base to give to the finished wire a coating of predetermined color value; a further object being to provide a color coated wire of the class described with a finishing coating of colored wax designed to fill up and cover crevices that may appear in the product and also to give a slippery and smoother outer surface to the finished product; a still further object being to include between predetermined coatings applied to the wire a treatment of a powdered substance to increase the flame retarding properties of the finished product; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in an electric wire of the class described and in the method of producing the same, which is hereafter more fully described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters, and in which:

The accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrates the arrangement of the several jackets, coverings or coatings to the electric conductor in making an insulated wire in accordance with my invention.

My invention relates primarily to what is known as heat resisting fixture wire which employs one or more layers or jackets of fibrous material, rather than rubber, arranged directly upon the wire and upon each other, it being understood that the wire may be in the formof a single strand or consist of multiple strands. While it has been old to treat the insulation of such wires with waterproof and fireproof saturants, the distinctive feature of my invention resides in the application of a colored opaque compound to the insulated wire to produce predetermined and contrasting colors thereon and to increase the waterproofing and flame resisting properties of the finished product, as well as in producing a smoother outer surface.

In the drawing, 1 represents the conductor wire, 2 the first insulator casing which may consist of a fibrous body of any kind or class, such for example as asbestos, cotton or the like, preferably in the form of a multiplicity of strands wrapped about the conductor. Upon the jacket 2, is placed another jacket or casing 3 of braided fibrous material, and the two casings or jackets 2 and 3 are treated with a saturant 4 having waterproof and fire resisting properties. The saturant is of low viscosity and is applied'under heat so as to thoroughly penetrate through the casings or jackets 2 and 3. The saturant 4 is applied by passing the insulated wire through suitable vats or tanks containing the heated saturant, in the usual or any desired manner.

After the saturant 4 has been applied, I again pass the insulated wire so treated through another vat or tank containing a compound of a more viscous and sluggish nature, having flameproof properties, to apply a coating 5 to the wire. It will be understood that the coating 5 will adhere to the saturant 4 and serve primarily to build up the blistering properties of the compound or saturant to increase the flame resisting properties of the product.

While it is not absolutely necessary, I may also include a treatment or coating 6 of certain powdered substances, such for example as sodium bicarbonate, sodium tungstate, sodium carbonate and the like, between the saturant 4 and the coating 5 to further increase the flame resisting properties of the product, and'this is also true in the application of a similar powdered substance 7 to the coating 5 or between said coating and the colored opaque compound 8. In this connection, it will be understood-that the powdered coatings 6 and '7 may be applied in any desired manner. I

Usually, it is the custom to treat the fibrous jackets or coverings 2 and 3 with black saturants or compounds. While the saturant 4 may be black, it is not absolutely essential that the coating 5 be black, as this compound may be modified in color value. I

It is the object of my invention to apply an outer coating or covering of opaque colored compound wherein the color pigment and the nature of the compound as a whole is such that the compound will fully cover and maintain its color value upon the undercoatings of the saturant. The colored compound may be produced in white and various shades of blue, green, red, brown, yellow, orange, gray, etc. While a dark saturant may tend to darken the color of the compound 8, this may be accounted for in the production of the color pigment in producing a predetermined color value in the finished product. At some times, however, I may include a final coating 9 of colored wax having a color value consistent with that of the compound, but the use of this coating as well as the use of the powdered substances -6 and 7 is not absolutely essential.

My improved colored compound preferably consists of a wax base such for example as paraffin wax, with which is combined relatively small percentages of carnauba wax and synthetic wax, or if desired, a small amount of synthetic resin may be included. It will be understood, however, that the various ingredients employed in the compound will be varied in the production of difierent colored compounds and in the use oi the compound on different saturants. It will be understood in this connection, that the compound will be of such consistency as to prevent or substantially eliminate the cracking or flaking thereof when the conductor is subjected to bending or flexure.

It will be understood that various changes in and modifications of the device and method herein disclosed may be made within the scope oi the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pateat, is:

1. The process of producing an insulated electric conductor having a colored outer coating which consists in first applying a fibrous body of insulating material directly upon the conductor, then treating said fibrous body with a moisture and fireproof saturant impregnating said body and forming a coating thereon, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over the saturant to form a colored jacket concealing the saturant, and then applying a coating of wax over the jacket, said wax coating having a color consistent with that of said compound and forming a final coating for the conductor.

2. The process of producing an insulated electric conductor having a colored outer coating which consists in first applying a fibrous body of insulating material directly upon the conductor, then treating said fibrous body with a saturant impregnating said body, then applying a flame resisting coating upon said fibrous body treated with the saturant, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over and concealing the last named coating and saturant, and introducing a powdered flame resistant material intermediate the saturant and said coating.

3. The process of producing an insulated electric conductor having a colored outer coating which consists in first applying a fibrous body of insulating material directly upon the conductor, then treating said fibrous body with a saturant impregnating said body, then applying a flame resisting coating upon said fibrous body treated with the saturant, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over and concealing the last named coating and saturant, and introducing a powdered flame resistant material intermediate the coating and said compound.

4. The process of producing an insulated electric conductor having a colored outer coating which consists ll'l first applying a fibrous body of insulating material directly upon the conductor, then treating said fibrous body with a saturant impregnating said body, then applying a flame resisting coating upon said fibrous body treated with the saturant, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over and concealing the last named coating and saturant, and introducing a powdered flame resistant material intermediate the separate coatings applied to the fibrous body treated with the saturant.

5. The process of producing an insulated electric conductor having a colored outer coating which consists in first applying a fibrous body of insulating material directly upon the conductor, then treating said fibrous body with a saturant impregnating said body, then applying a flame resisting coating upon said fibrous body treated with the saturant, then applying a colored opaque compound containing a wax base over and concealing the last named coating and saturant, introducing a powdered flame resistant material intermediate the separate coatings applied to the fibrous body treated with the saturant, and a final coating of colored wax o! a color consistent with that of said compound.

6. The method of producing insulated conductors which consists in wrapping a fibrous body directly upon the conductor strand, then applying a braided jacket to said fibrous body, then treating said body and jacket with a saturant which impregnates the strands thereof, then applying a flame resistant coating to the saturant to increase the flame resistant properties of the conductor, then applying an opaque colored compound to the conductor thus formed to provide an outer enveloping casing or film, covering and concealing the undercoatings and producing an insulated conductor of predetermined color, and then applying a wax coating having a color consistent with that of the compound directly thereon.

7. The method of producing insulated conductors which consists in wrapping a fibrous body directly upon the conductor strand, then applying a braided jacket to said fibrous body, then treating said body and jacket with a saturant which impregnates the strands thereof, then applying a flame resistant coating to the saturant to increase the flame resistant properties of the conductor, then applying an opaque colored compound to the conductor thus formed to provide an outer enveloping casing or film, covering and concealing the undercoatings and producing an insulated conductor of predetermined color, and introducing between the separate coatings a powdered flame resistant material.

8. In insulated conductors, an electric wire including a fibrous body mounted directly upon the wire, and a braided casing enveloping said body, said casing being impregnated with a water and flame resistant saturant, a jacket enveloping and concealing the casing treated with the saturant, said jacket being composed of an opaque colored compound giving a desired color to the insulated conductor, and said compound having a wax base, and a powdered substance having flame resistant properties arranged intermediate the treated casing and the compound jacket.

9. In insulated conductors. an electric wire including a fibrous body mounted directly uponthe wire and a braided casing enveloping said body, said casing being impregnated with a water and flame resistant, saturant, a powdered substance on said saturant, a flame resistant compound on said powdered substance, another coating of powdered material on the compound, a jacket enveloping and concealing the powdered coating and compound, said jacket being composed of an opaque colored compound giving a desired color to the insulated conductor, and said compound having a wax base. and an outer film oi colored wax on said colored jacket and of a color value consistent with that of the jacket.

ANTHONY P. HINSKY. 

